Protest clashes in Kashmir, Pakistani flag hosted; Cops house set on fire

Ganderbal Oct 19:In Indian-administrated Kashmir Amid unfurling Pakistani flag on a lofty tower, agitated youth ransacked the house of a police man and tried to set it on fire in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Saturday. The youth also smashed the windowpanes of scores of vehicles including Oil Tankers and police vehicles.

Police Sources told CNS that scores of youth resorted to stone-pelting and allegedly lobbed a petrol-bomb on a police party headed by SHO, KhirBhawani Mir Imtiyaz and SHO Lar Jaspal Singh near Barsoo crossing. The petrol bomb according to reports exploded with a bang and created panic amoung policemen, who resorted to heavy tear-smoke shelling.

Eyewitnesses told CNS that police apprehended a youth Owais Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Ahad resident of Barsoo soon after the incident. The agitated youth assembled near Barsoo crossing, Kurhama and Kondabal and pelted stones on vehicles passing through the road. They were demanding the immediate release of
Owais Bhat.

Scores of youth marched towards the residence of a policeman Mushtaq Ahmed Baba in Wandhama and ransacked the house. The youth smashed the windowpanes of the house and sprinkled kerosene on the house. However, stone-pelters could not put the house on fire due to timely intervention of locals.
The youth later on unfurled the Pakistani flag on a lofty PDD tower and amid pro-freedom slogans clashed with the police deployed on the roads. It was only after the seeking the help from 5 RR personnel and Power Development Department that Pakistani flag was removed from the lofty tower.
Reports said that several persons including some policemen were injured during the clashes which continued for hours at different places of the town. (CNS)